review of gambeson from Viking Leather

[Sir Wolf]

http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=127927&highlight=

[Sir Edward]

Cool. I like how the shoulder/armpit looks in the photos, as it doesn't have the standard t-shirt sort of cut. It looks more like a real gambeson. I commented in the thread about the sleeve lengths. Apparently people have complained they're too long. Clearly they've never tried putting armor over it.

[Sir Wolf]

ya.they really look like a good buy. i am very tempted... but i GOT to finish these other kits first before i really get into the 14thc swing of things

[Das Bill]

That doesn't look too shabby, but something looks off about the shoulders. They don't look like they're cut right, making the taper towards the neck a bit weird. I suspect on some people it will fit fine, but on others it will fit funny.

[Sir Brian]

I don’t know that design suspiciously looks a lot like the one from revival clothing which offers great padding but it is HOT as it does not breathe well and as Das Bill advised some time ago it is restrictive in the arms and shoulders. 

Well I'm adding this new gambeson in a kelly green.
http://revival.us/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=83

Sir Brian,
Have you already purchased this yet, or are you still just thinking about it? If you haven't purchased it, I'm going to advise against it. It has a very weird cut to it, where only certain body shapes seem to fit it right. The sloping from the neck to the shoulders is weird, and the area around the armpits is very poorly shaped. For many people its restricting.

Further, they claim its a grand assiette design, but it isn't really a very good one. A proper one will allow you to lift your arms straight up without having the rest of the garment lift, which is very important under armour. This one doesn't quite allow it perfectly, though it isn't terrible in that respect, either.

I bought one last year, and hated it. I let a couple of other people try it on, who also did not like it, so I sent it back. In my opinion, unless if you're one of the lucky few whom this fits perfectly, I don't feel that this is worth the asking price.

On the other hand, I've seen a few people post on forums who've said that they happen to fit the gambeson well enough, so if you've already purchased it, then I hope you're one of those lucky few.

[Sir Wolf]

that inward cut is based off of the 14th century design. its supposed to let you move your arms without the waist going upwards. i forget the whole who made what on the AA forum but the design is legit to them and not copy of another merchants.

[Das Bill]

That's not what I mean. The cut isn't the same as a 14th c. design. I think Sir Brian is right about how it looks like a copy (though I think he means Revival Martial Arts, not Revival Clothing, as the former has the bad design and the latter has an excellent design). The way the shoulders are sloped it means that for some builds (such as my own) you'll have a gap above the shoulders, making it bunch up when you lift your arms even though the waist doesn't lift.

Unfortunately, the grand assiette sleeves are tricky, and that's why the good ones are so expensive, and the cheaper ones fit in a funny way.

[Sir Wolf]

That's not what I mean. The cut isn't the same as a 14th c. design. I think Sir Brian is right about how it looks like a copy (though I think he means Revival Martial Arts, not Revival Clothing, as the former has the bad design and the latter has an excellent design). The way the shoulders are sloped it means that for some builds (such as my own) you'll have a gap above the shoulders, making it bunch up when you lift your arms even though the waist doesn't lift.

Unfortunately, the grand assiette sleeves are tricky, and that's why the good ones are so expensive, and the cheaper ones fit in a funny way.

you are prob right about the fit. still the price isn't bad though.

[Sir Edward]

I think he means Revival Martial Arts, not Revival Clothing, as the former has the bad design and the latter has an excellent design

Probably so. I certainly have nothing but praise for my Revival Clothing gambeson. It breathes pretty well and moves very well. Combined with armor it would probably get a little warm, but as a fencing gambeson it rocks.

[Sir Edward]

I think he means Revival Martial Arts, not Revival Clothing, as the former has the bad design and the latter has an excellent design

Probably so. I certainly have nothing but praise for my Revival Clothing gambeson. It breathes pretty well and moves very well. Combined with armor it would probably get a little warm, but as a fencing gambeson it rocks.

Oh I had a thought. Sir Brian, were you referring to the Revival Clothing wrestling jacket? It's true, that won't breathe well under armor at all.

[Sir Brian]

Nope Bill has the right of it! I get those two places mixed up all the time! 

I consider the revival clothing's gambeson to be the pinnacle of how gambeson's should be. Their wrestling jacket is fine for use as an extremely light weight gambeson under armor when heat exhaustion is the primary concern but I wouldn't recommend it when expecting a lot more protection. 

[Sir William]

They have a wrestling jacket?  I have never heard of such.

[Sir Brian]

Yes it's nearly canvas grade material but completely unpadded. It would look and do well as WMA for light bouts or as an outer cover for your more robust padding. It is from revival clothing so it moves well although it has this bizarre tendency to become stiffer when saturated with sweat. 

[Sir Edward]

The wrestling jackets are relatively new to the WMA/HEMA community. The idea is that for the unarmored combat techniques, you need a durable jacket that you can grab and throw people around with, and have it be durable enough to take it. So they're designed with that goal in mind, rather than padding for weapon techniques.

[Sir James A]

The wrestling jackets are relatively new to the WMA/HEMA community. The idea is that for the unarmored combat techniques, you need a durable jacket that you can grab and throw people around with, and have it be durable enough to take it. So they're designed with that goal in mind, rather than padding for weapon techniques.

Having never laid my hands on one, I'm not certain, but I think they're based off the same material as judo uniforms are. They look similar to my untrained eye.